Associated Press: Critics look to pressure GOP over Indiana redistricting

11.30.2020 / By Tom Davies
Associated Press: Critics look to pressure GOP over Indiana redistricting

“The General Assembly won’t do it— we understand the motivations why they won’t do it,” said Julia Vaughn, Common Cause Indiana’s policy director. “So we’re creating this parallel, this shadow, process that will demonstrate to Hoosiers and the Legislature alike that there is a way to do this in the public interest, out in the open so that everybody can see.”

A coalition of activist groups announced a new push Monday against what it called partisan gerrymandering by Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature.

Coalition leaders said they would form a citizens commission that will hold virtual town hall meetings in January and February and propose new voting districts to the General Assembly before lawmakers approve new congressional and legislative district maps next year using 2020 census information.

Those advocating for a revamp of Indiana’s redistricting procedures have failed over several years to find support among Republicans whose full-supermajority command of the Indiana Legislature came about after they gained total control over redrawing those maps 10 years ago.

The coalition of some 25 groups, including Common Cause Indiana, the NAACP and the League of Women Voters, said they hoped public pressure would force Republicans not to draw new voting districts behind closed doors.

“The General Assembly won’t do it— we understand the motivations why they won’t do it,” said Julia Vaughn, Common Cause Indiana’s policy director. “So we’re creating this parallel, this shadow, process that will demonstrate to Hoosiers and the Legislature alike that there is a way to do this in the public interest, out in the open so that everybody can see.”

See More: Gerrymandering/RedistrictingGerrymandering & Representation